Which place is cheaper, Lima or Punta Arenas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Punta Arenas or Lima? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.
Lima, the capital city of Peru, is likely to be your point of entry for the country. Lima was founded in 1535 and was the seat of the Spanish rule for 300 years. It's a surprisingly modern city despite its rich history, but many beautiful churches and colonial architecture remain today. There are also large slum areas that highlight the poverty that exists in the city. The city and its surrounding metropolitan area have a population of about 8.5 million people, many of whom came from the Andes Mountains in search of work. Unfortunately the work opportunities are limited and the poverty is obvious as you arrive in Lima.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Arenas is $62, while the average daily cost in Lima is $77. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Punta Arenas and Lima in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Punta Arenas or Lima? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Also for Punta Arenas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:
Prices for flights to both Lima and Punta Arenas change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Punta Arenas:
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta Arenas.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Punta Arenas:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Arenas and Lima, we can see that Lima is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Lima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lima than you might in Punta Arenas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta Arenas Expensive? and Is Lima Expensive?.
Lima has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Punta Arenas. When comparing the sizes of Punta Arenas and Lima, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Punta Arenas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Lima experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Lima and Punta Arenas during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Lima year-round.
In the summer, Punta Arenas is much colder than Lima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Punta Arenas in January average around 11°C (52°F), and Lima averages at about 18°C (64°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Punta Arenas. In the summer, Punta Arenas often gets more sunshine than Limain July. Punta Arenas gets 208 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 36 hours of full sun.
Punta Arenas usually gets more rain in January than Limain July. Punta Arenas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Lima receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Punta Arenas and Lima. Lima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Punta Arenas is generally much colder than Limain October. Daily temperatures in Punta Arenas average around 7°C (44°F), and Lima fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
Punta Arenas usually receives more sunshine than Lima during autumn. Punta Arenas gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 60 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In April, Punta Arenas usually receives more rain than Limain October. Punta Arenas gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Lima receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Punta Arenas as well as Lima. The warm climate attracts visitors to Lima throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Punta Arenas in the winter. Punta Arenas is much colder than Lima in the winter. The daily temperature in Punta Arenas averages around 1°C (35°F) in July, and Lima fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in January.
In the winter, Punta Arenas often gets less sunshine than Limain January. Punta Arenas gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lima receives 185 hours of full sun.
Punta Arenas usually gets more rain in July than Limain January. Punta Arenas gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Lima receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Lima and Punta Arenas are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Lima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Punta Arenas is much colder than Lima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Punta Arenas in October average around 7°C (44°F), and Lima averages at about 22°C (72°F)in April.
Punta Arenas usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lima during spring. Punta Arenas gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Lima receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Punta Arenas usually receives more rain than Limain April. Punta Arenas gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Lima receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Punta Arenas | Lima | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 11°C (52°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Feb | 11°C (52°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Apr | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
May | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Jun | 2°C (35°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
Jul | 1°C (35°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
Aug | 3°C (37°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
Sep | 5°C (40°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
Oct | 7°C (44°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
Nov | 9°C (48°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Dec | 11°C (51°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |